When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas

In recent years there has been an increased focus on gang desistence and exiting strategies, yet little is known at present regarding the experiences of women exiting the gang lifestyle. The current study, based on semi-structured interviews with twenty-four formerly gang-affiliated Chicana women in...

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Main Authors: Abigail F. Kolb, Ted Palys, Ashley Green
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kennesaw State University 2019-10-01
Series:Journal of Public and Professional Sociology
Online Access:https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jpps/vol11/iss2/4/
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author Abigail F. Kolb
Ted Palys
Ashley Green
author_facet Abigail F. Kolb
Ted Palys
Ashley Green
author_sort Abigail F. Kolb
collection DOAJ
description In recent years there has been an increased focus on gang desistence and exiting strategies, yet little is known at present regarding the experiences of women exiting the gang lifestyle. The current study, based on semi-structured interviews with twenty-four formerly gang-affiliated Chicana women involved with a prominent gang prevention/intervention organization, sought to understand how these women negotiated their disengagement from the gang. Consistent with previous literature, we found that disengagement from the gang lifestyle is neither linear nor immediate. Five primary themes that emerged from the interviews included: (1) the process of identity transition; (2) motherhood and its responsibilities; (3) generational shifts in gang culture; (4) burning bridges; (5) impacts of prison; and (6) support services. The women's narratives offer an alternative lens through which to understand women’s negotiation of their own identities through the process of disengagement from the gang.
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publishDate 2019-10-01
publisher Kennesaw State University
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spelling doaj-art-97b71a5ac76a47e4bf94dfd7cc9f64632025-08-20T03:29:02ZengKennesaw State UniversityJournal of Public and Professional Sociology2154-89352019-10-01112When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated ChicanasAbigail F. Kolb0Ted Palys1Ashley Green2University of West GeorgiaSimon Fraser UniversityClayton State UniversityIn recent years there has been an increased focus on gang desistence and exiting strategies, yet little is known at present regarding the experiences of women exiting the gang lifestyle. The current study, based on semi-structured interviews with twenty-four formerly gang-affiliated Chicana women involved with a prominent gang prevention/intervention organization, sought to understand how these women negotiated their disengagement from the gang. Consistent with previous literature, we found that disengagement from the gang lifestyle is neither linear nor immediate. Five primary themes that emerged from the interviews included: (1) the process of identity transition; (2) motherhood and its responsibilities; (3) generational shifts in gang culture; (4) burning bridges; (5) impacts of prison; and (6) support services. The women's narratives offer an alternative lens through which to understand women’s negotiation of their own identities through the process of disengagement from the gang.https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jpps/vol11/iss2/4/
spellingShingle Abigail F. Kolb
Ted Palys
Ashley Green
When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas
Journal of Public and Professional Sociology
title When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas
title_full When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas
title_fullStr When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas
title_full_unstemmed When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas
title_short When You're Out, You're Not Really Out: Exiting Strategies Among Gang-Affiliated Chicanas
title_sort when you re out you re not really out exiting strategies among gang affiliated chicanas
url https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/jpps/vol11/iss2/4/
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